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Pelosi Plane Controversy Continues

February 11, 2007 3:14 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton Reports: Speaking to NBC's Tim Russert, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, continued the GOP's critique of a request for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to use a different military aircraft for her travel than the one used by former Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. According to Democrats, Pelosi never asked for anything. The request was from the House Sergeant-at-Arms who asked for a plane that could take Pelosi to her home in California without needing to stop.

Boehner said Pelosi should, without question, have the security of the plane for her travel, but that Hastert's old plane should be suitable.

"The plane that was used for Mr. Hastert has a 4,000 nautical mile range, so the same plane could have been used by Ms. Pelosi. Where the concerns were elevated is when she started to talk about taking family, supporters, staff and other members on her trip with her. I think the taxpayers ought to provide a plane for her and her close staff, but when you start talking about supporters and other members and friends, I don't think the taxpayers ought to be held accountable for that," Boehner said.

"This is much ado about nothing," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said. "The Republicans are frustrated because we've been so successful in the first month."

Pelosi also has an unexpected ally in the fight- the White House. Earlier this week White House Press Secretary Tony Snow called the story "silly."

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